Teaching Sound Doctrine

Review:

Discipleship is

God Centered

Church Centered

Teaching

Content:

Scripture (Discipleship begins and ends with Biblical Literacy.)

We never move on from the study of Scripture, but we do study Scripture in different ways, through different theological categories.

Scripture itself. (What does it say?))

Interpretation (What does it mean?) (Exegetical Theology)

Biblical Theology

Systematic Theology

Practical Theology

Historical Theology

Introductory Question:

How does a Confession serve the church?

An authoritative statement agreed upon by the church which summarizes the theology and doctrine found in Scripture.

Early evidences of confessional statements in the church 1 Corinthians 15:3-6

1 Corinthians 15:3–6 NASB95

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep;

Before Paul had even written the one of the earliest epistles, (1 Corinthians) the church was summarizing the faith once for all given to the saints. In order to preserve the sound doctrine presented in the Scriptures, they summarized it for the benefit of the church. They were doing so faithfully apparently because it’s presented to us in inspired Scripture.

How does Doctrine serve Discipleship?

1. Sound Doctrine keeps us from misusing Scripture.

Problem: Absence of sound doctrine!

1 Timothy 1:3–8 NASB95

3 As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, 4 nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith. 5 But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, 7 wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions. 8 But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully,

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Let’s do some interpretation together.

How would you summarize Paul’s concern that he’s expressing to Timothy?

What’s the problem these ‘some men’ have?

They do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.

They haven’t interpreted the Scriptures correctly. They want to be authoritative theologians, but don’t know the Scriptures well enough to interpret them well. (We interpret Scripture with Scripture)

What’s the difference between these two teachers? Paul and “some men” as Paul calls them.

What’s Paul’s solution?

Instruct them! Disciple them. Teach them to avoid these false doctrines and implied here: use the Scriptures rightly and lawfully.

These teachers are misusing the Scriptures and arriving at false doctrines.

Many of the Pharisees knew the Scriptures yet arrived at false doctrines oriented towards legalism forsaking faith.

Peter knew the Scriptures and yet stumbled into legalism needing Paul’s correction that it is by faith not by circumcision that we are accepted into the fold.

Arius quoted Scripture in 325

Colossians 1:15 NASB95

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

John 14:28 NASB95

28 “You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.

and concluded Christ was created, similar to the Father but not of the same divinity as the Father.

...

The sound doctrine taught and protected by the church keeps us from misusing Scripture leading to stumbling and unfruitful ends, both for ourselves and those who we may influence in the future.

Questions or comments on 1 Timothy 1:3-8

2. Sound Doctrine Keeps us from Division

If the problem is unaddressed:

1 Timothy 6:3–5 NASB95

3 If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.

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How might we respond to the accusation, “Doctrine just causes divisions.” ?

What’s the pursuit of this different divisive doctrine? - The gain of man.

False doctrine often makes it’s fundamental priority the gain of men. That’s why it’s divisive. The conceited will compete for their own standing and benefit and use ‘godliness’ as the means to get there. (Often a man-made law not real godliness)

Sound doctrine, seeks godliness for the sake of godliness. It’s not a means to an end, because in godliness we seek the gain of Christ - We seek His glory and not our own.

There’s unity in soli deo gloria. To the glory of Christ alone.

3. Sound Doctrine ensures we are being fed what we need and not what we want.

The close relationship between sound doctrine and Scripture.

2 Timothy 4:1–5 NASB95

1 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

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How do we determine what we are to teach and preach?

To preach the word is to advance sound doctrine. The two are closely related. We haven’t ventured into a new and distinct form of teaching or preaching when we present sound doctrine.

Why would people not endure sound doctrine?

If you’ve spent any time with kids you know there’s an ingrained preference for the cookies over the broccoli. Paul’s charge to Timothy reminds us that very often people don’t grow out of that preference when it comes to the diet of teaching they’re looking for. Many people are looking for what they want and what they prefer in the teaching rather than what they need. The preaching of the Word and sound doctrine ensure the diet doesn’t change when the audience does.

There are those today who will claim, we live in a different age, we need a different doctrine. There may be doctrines which are more necessary in our day, but the Word hasn’t changed, and sound doctrine hasn’t changed. People and cultures change all the time, and we as the church are to form ourselves around the unchanging sufficiency of Scripture and the doctrines they teach.

That’s why in the work of discipleship we can pick up books that 10 years old and books that are 200 years old. It’s all the same word and the same sound doctrine that nourishes our faith and our walk.

4. Sound Doctrine is the nourishment necessary for godliness.

The relationship between sound doctrine and godliness.

1 Timothy 4:4–8 NASB95

4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; 5 for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer. 6 In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following. 7 But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; 8 for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

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There are those who are pursuing godliness by means of legalism and asceticism. They reject good things which God has created when they ought to receive it with gratitude.

In contrast, what is Timothy supposed to be characterized by?

He teaches them the freedom that is found in Christ and so proves to be a good servant of Christ Jesus.

His nourishment:

words of the faith and of the sound doctrine.

Sound doctrine is actually nourishing for the Christian and beneficial towards the work of ministry in which we all participate.

This nourishment ultimately bears fruit in godliness and discipline distinct from legalism and asceticism.

Sound Doctrine

Keeps us from misusing Scripture

Keeps us from division

Ensures we are fed what we need and not what we want

The nourishment necessary for godliness.

What does this mean for our work of discipleship.

Know the Scriptures! Biblical Literacy is the foundation of fruitful discipleship.

Know the Historical Sound Teaching and Sound Doctrines of our faith.

Read books by trusted authors that help us defend the faith in an ever changing world.

Do it together. Let’s not forget that the whole of 1 Timothy is a work of Paul discipling Timothy, equipping Him and teaching Him to serve the church well to the glory of God.